Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-31-1991

Volume

252

Issue

18

Publication Title

The Nation

First Page

626

Last Page

628

Abstract

Studies by the Times Mirror Center ("The Age of Indifference") and others purport to reveal that today's teenagers and young adults view politics with nearly universal hatred and express apathy toward public affairs generally. A little more probing uncovers a more complex set of attitudes. Allan Moyle's film Pump Up the Volume, based in part on workshops with teenagers in New York, reveals a generation not so much apathetic as disgusted with adult hypocrisy, furious at adults' apparent inaction on mounting social problems, cynical about 1960s-style protest and uncertain about what else there is to do. But it is clear enough that civics classes, weekend senior trips to Washington and simple exhortations to be "good citizens"-the stuff of political education for earlier generations-are not going to do much to interest young people in the political world.

Comments

Copyright 1991 The National Company Inc.

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